The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-03-25

tor weeks they nave Deen loauing anu
bringing to regulation poise, we may
we'll ask what damage is it calculated
to work?
In attempting to answer that let It
be known that however stated the
strongest that can be said on their
side has been said, and is said alike
by every local opposer as well as by
the larger opposers ~ who had that
meeting in charge.
Some things relative TO that meet
ing are very significant.
One is this-none defended the
liquor traffic. They put no full
fledged samples of its work on the
platform appropriately costumed to
aid enthusiasm. All the speakers
were in favor oflessening, suppressing,
extinguishing the lurid light cast by
the drink traffic, but the means pro-
posed by which to do it-ah, there is
the rub. They were simply opposed
to the amendment because-well, it
will not amend, that's all. Note the
fact that the traffic had no open de-
fender That night. One lesson, don't
waste time in showing the traffic an
evil /; assume that and none will deny.
AS to the standing" Of the meeting:
The Evening News published
the names signed to the call
and asked a careful reading Of
them. l read them. No name was
recognized. knew no man of them
all. "Three. fourths of the wealth of
Detroit was represented at that meet
ing" So said one to me in the city
last night. Well, that only illustrates
what God thinks of money by the
way he places it. We know the
opinions of the speakers by what
they said and of the audience by
what ii said. Study the applause"
to see what crowd were there.
Mr.. Sheley's disappointment Of
expectation that liquor would be
blotted out under the so.called
prohibitory law existing prior to
1875 was greeted with laughter and
applause. Here is strange sight.
An earnest, devoted temperance man
full Of regret and disappointment
that a measure against saloonism
aborted, finds his utterances to that
effect applauded and cheered, ETC.,
would it not be equally appropriate
to suppose mass of humanity burst
ing forth into peals of laughter if a
member of board of health were to
tell a people that plague had
broken the power of quarantine and
spread all ever a city! Again, when
Professor Kent referred TO the liquor
men of the state in words that should
make us ponder deeply, he found the
same hearty response. Of their mate
lawlessness Of spirit he thus speaks,
under the supposition that the amend.
ment passes and laws are enacted
prohibiting saloonism.
"They will prevent the juries from
convicting. They viii! undertake TO
overthrow the law and probably will
succeed. If they do not succeed in
this, that is, preventing the juries
from convicting chow , and over
throwing the law, then they will use
whatever means God and nature have
put in their hands to defend them.
selves and what they regard as their
most sacred rights. Prolonged ap'
plause) Anarchists do not bother
about God and nature, but use the
means provided by mature and
SCIENCE difference in terms, but
what in fact? Just why the 'bes
business men Of Detroit should
applaud at length that sentiment is g
puzzle. But going beyond this ane
referring 10 an attempt to burn 6
church full of people in Holly, who
are assembled to consider lik,
question, which act, of course, he doe
not defend and SO states. He say!
'you will find hundreds of peopl,
who will excuse the liquor dealers TO
defending their rights and propert.
in the same way (Applause).
"And can we, whose forefather
secured their liberties in ways no
unlike these, can we say that ii on
rights, which we thought we're sacred
were assailed in that way we shoulc
do otherwise. | fear not" (Grea
applause).
1t must be of intense interest 10 tn
student OF our history to learn at til
; lips Of so prominent a man that
ball of burning rags thrown under
full church, composed to large eS
tent of women, is way of procedur
not unlike that our fathers practice'
. to gain what we were won't to suppos
we're our blood-bought liberties. Hi
, own opinion of the audience ad
: dressed seems to be that they woul'
| practice the same methods. "Cal
we say that we should not do other
wise? / fear not.
How howl would go up if som
one who favors the amendment wer